Low COVID-19 levels in Minnesota still dominated by omicron subvariant

Whereas COVID-19 circumstances stay low in Minnesota, coronavirus ranges in Twin Cities wastewater proceed to extend with the BA.2 omicron subvariant making up the majority of what was detected.

The viral load present in sewage — a key COVID-19 barometer that has elevated forward of previous an infection waves — was up 73% over the previous week, in line with Metropolitan Council information supplied Friday. The numbers are nonetheless on the lowest ranges since final summer season, however officers famous the load is now doubling about each 18 days.

“The quantity of [COVID] genetic materials within the wastewater getting into the Metro Plant stays low, however it has been rising for 4 consecutive weeks,” Met Council analysis scientist Steve Balogh stated in an announcement. “The rising quantity of viral materials in our wastewater signifies an rising prevalence of COVID-19 … so in that sense, the pattern is of concern.”

Samples from the Metropolitan Wastewater Therapy Plant in St. Paul present the BA.2 subvariant made up, on common, round 91% of the viral load over the course of per week, though the latest numbers have been round 95%.

Whereas Minnesota is seeing BA.2 circumstances climb, a number of different new subvariants have been detected elsewhere within the nation. The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Companies introduced this week it’s extending the coronavirus public well being emergency, which has been in place for 2 years, for an additional 90 days. ​​And the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention stated Wednesday it will prolonged the federal transportation masks mandate for 15 days by Could 3.

“CDC continues to observe the unfold of the Omicron variant, particularly the BA.2 subvariant that now makes up greater than 85% of U.S. circumstances,” the company stated in its announcement. “The CDC Masks Order stays in impact whereas CDC assesses the potential impression of the rise of circumstances on extreme illness, together with hospitalizations and deaths, and healthcare system capability.”

COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have remained comparatively low in Minnesota.

The Minnesota Division of Well being reported seven deaths on Thursday, bringing the state’s complete COVID deaths to 12,464. There have been 205 COVID hospitalizations on Thursday, together with 25 in intensive care. Hospitalizations have been low for the previous month and much beneath a peak of 1,629 on Jan. 14 when omicron surged within the state.

The Well being Division reported 877 COVID-19 circumstances on Thursday. It has grow to be tougher to trace the variety of circumstances in Minnesota as individuals decide to make use of at-home testing kits relatively than go to in-person COVID-19 testing areas.

Wastewater information has grow to be an essential pandemic measurement. Whereas the plant would not present a full image of the state, Met Council workers famous it serves a big swath of the Twin Cities space — about 66 communities and practically 2 million individuals.

The Well being Division additionally reported as of Thursday 49% of Minnesotans age 5 and older are updated on their pictures, that means they’ve gotten all of the doses they’re eligible to obtain. Practically 75% have acquired a minimum of one dose.

On the finish of March, the Meals and Drug Administration licensed an additional dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for individuals 50 and older.